Anesthesia Coding Alert
Don't Expect Payment for In-utero Anesthesia
Question: We had a unique situation in which two anesthesiologists were involved with care for an expectant mother and her fetus. The mother was given general anesthesia. The fetus was given a weight-based cocktail of fentanyl, vecuronium, and atropine. Anesthesia time for the mother was 1048 to 1429; for the fetus was 1145 to 1405. Can we bill for anesthesia on an in-utero fetus? California Subscriber Answer: Just from an administrative and practical standpoint, you will not be able to bill anything for the fetus separately because the insurance companies won’t cover a baby as a separate member on the policy until after the birth. You’d have to bill both charges to the mother’s policy with the expectation that one would be denied as a duplicate. Since it’s a unique situation, you may be able to appeal with notes and an explanation for the multiple services and get payment for both physician’s services.
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